Chair and detachable cushion therefor



March 5, 1957 wElLL 2,783,828

CHAIR AND DETACHABLE CUSHION THEREFOR Filed April 4, 19 55 2 Shets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

97-] Fig. 2 BrunoR. Weill Fig.7

Anor y March 5, 1957 Filed April 4, 1955 B. R. WElLL CHAIR AND DETACHABLE CUSHION THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.8

Bruno R. Weill' After ey United States Patent CHAIR AND DETACHABLE CUSHION THEREFOR Bruno R. Weill, York, Pa., assignor to Thonet Industries, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 4, 1955, Serial No. $8,815

Claims. (Cl. 155-184) This invention relates to improvements in a chair having one or more detachable cushions. More particularly the invention relates to what is known in the trade as an institutional chair but the invention is not necessarily to be restricted to this specific type of chair. The invention is adapted to any type of chair having cushions which, during use, are to be held in a relatively fixed position in relation to the frame of the chair, but said cushions may quickly be detached for purposes of cleaning, for example, and then re-attached to the frame of the chair without requiring the use of any tools or instruments, such attachment and detachment also being performed without the requirement of any great force.

Chairs sustaining substantial use such as in offices, waiting rooms, schools, hospitals, and other types of socalled institutions, usually are composed of a frame formed from either metal or wood and cushions are either permanently or detachably connected to such frames. Frequently such cushions are covered with durable materials such as flexible sheet resin, leather, imitation leather of various kinds, or suitable woven fabrics. It is convenient to have a few extra cushions available so that when, for example, the cushions become soiled, they may readily be replaced with a clean cushion so as to permit the cleaning of the soiled cushion without taking the chair out of use.

Some chairs are available at present which have removable cushions but many of these have no means for holding the cushions substantially in the desired position on the frame of the chair and, of necessity, such cushions must be made relatively thick and shape-sustaining so that the cushion may remain relatively in the desired position upon the frame of the chair. By using means to attach the cushion to a chair frame, it is possible to use a thinner cushion but presently available cushion-securing means have not been satisfactory for reasons of complexity, expense of construction and installation, or otherwise, particularly where such attaching means areof a nature that will permit the detachability of the cushion from the chair frame and especially in regard to attaching means which require no tools to operate the same.

The present invention comprises a chair including a frame to which one or more cushions such as a back and seat cushion are detachably connected to the chair frame by means requiring the use of no tools and only slight forces whereby, for example, women may readily attach and detach the cushions to and from the chair frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide cushion attaching means which are extremely inexpensive, simple in nature, capable of accurately positioning the cushion relative to the chair frame while in use, and affording no objectionable projections or mechanism which might interfere with cleaning operations when the cushion is removed from the chair.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

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In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair frame having cushions positioned thereon, in phantom, said figure also illustrating cushion-attaching means embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the back and seat portions of the chair and cushions illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is a vertical, fragmentary elevation of the back of a chair showing a somewhat different form of the attaching means of the invention from the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, partly broken away, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, partially fragmentary, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one exemplary form of receiving member for part of the attaching means comprising one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical elevation of another embodiment of receiving member comprising part of the attaching means used in another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, a chair frame 10 is illustrated which may be formed of any suitable material such as wood or metal. It is to be understood that the particular shape of the frame is merely exemplary and not restricting. Exemplary cushions comprising a back cushion 12 and a seat cushion 14, shown in phantom, respectively are disposed against the back frame 16 and the seat frame 13. Any suitable means such as webbing 20, expansible strips or the like may be used to support the cushions between the side members comprising the back and the seat frames 16 and 18.

The exemplary cushions 12 and 14 are shown in socalled box-like shape inasmuch as this is a popular form of cushion for institutional type chairs. However, as stated above, the invention is not to be restricted to this type of chair although it is especially adapted to the same. Such cushions, for example, have a front face panel 22 and a rear face panel 24, which are connected at their edges by side strips or panels 26. Cushion attaching means embodying the principles of the invention are illustrated in all of the figures and, for purposes of presenting an attractive appearance to the chair when in use, said attaching means preferably are hidden from view when in use.

The preferred embodiment of the attaching means comprises a preferably flat, elongated, flexible strip 23 which is supported by the rear face panel 2 5 of each cushion. The supporting means for the strip 28 preferably comprises a sleeve 3b, which may, for example, be formed from similar material to that of the cushion covering material. For convenience, said sleeve 30 may simply comprise a strip of said material folded upon itself and stitched to the rear face panel 24 of the cushion by stitching 32. Any desired modification of making the sleeve member 30 may be used within the spirit of the invention such, for example, as by stitching opposite edges of a single strip of the material to the face panel of the cushion.

The attaching means for the cushions also comprises a pair of receiving members 34, one embodiment of which is shown in detail, on an enlarged scale, in Fig. 7. It will be seen that the receiving member 34 is bail-like and may be attached to one frame member of the chair by a single screw or nail 36.

The receiving members 34 are preferably substantially spaced apart so as to be adjacent opposite side edges of the frame of the back 16 or seat 13, thereby affording a practical means for preventing any substantial twisting movement of the cushions 12 or 14 relative to the back and seat frames of the chair. The receiving members 34 are arranged to receive the opposite ends of the flexible strip 28 when said strip is substantially flat as shown in Fig. 1. However, when the strip is flexed, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, together with the flexing of the cushion, the opposite ends of the strip 28 will be retracted from the receiving members 34 and thereby permit the ready removal of the cushions 12 or 14 from the frame of the chair. It will be obvious that simply by flexing or bowing the cushions 12 or 14, particularly adjacent the upper end or the read end, respectively, thereof, such retracting of the opposite ends of the flexible strip 28 from the receiving members 34 readily is achieved. In fact, it is only necessary to sufficiently flex the cushions and strips 28 sufficiently to withdraw one end of the strip 28 from its receiving member 34, and then the cushion may be removed by sliding the same longitudinally relative to the frame in a direction to Withdraw the other end of the strip 28 from its receiving member 34.

To afford maximum positioning of the cushions 12 and 14 relative respectively to the back frame 16 and seat frame 18, the sleeves 3i) and flexible strips 28 on said cushions respectively are disposed adjacent the upper end of cushion 12 and rearward end of cushion 14. By such an arrangement, when a person sits in said chair, there is a natural tendency to pull downward upon back cushion 12 and push forward upon seat cushion 14. By having the cushion attaching means arranged as described and illustrated, maximum resistance to such sliding movements of the cushions relative to the chair frame will be afforded.

The sleeves 30 are shorter than the flexible strips 28, whereby the opposite ends of the strips project beyond the outer ends of the sleeves 30 and do not interfere with said ends of strips 28 being received within the receiving members 34. in the preferred construction, the sleeves 30 preferably are of a length substantially equal to the distance between the inner edges of the receiving members 34 and, when the cushions are positioned in use, the sleeves 30 will be positioned so as to extend between the receiving members 34 and thereby prevent any appreciable transverse movement of the cushion relative to the frame supporting the same in a direction longitudinally of strip 28.

Further, to prevent relative movement of the strip 28 to sleeve 3'9 and also accurately position the same in desired relationship to each other, any suitable means such as a rivet 38 may be used which is received within opening 40 in each of the strips 28.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the opposite ends of the flexible strips 28 provide attaching means sup ported by the cushion for relative contracting and projecting movements in relation to each other as well as the receiving members or keepers 34. Such movement is effected by flexing the cushion to which the flexible member 28 is attached, simultaneously flexing the member 28 as well. Permitting the cushion and flexible member to straighten projects the opposite ends of the flexible strip 23 into engagement with the receiving members 34.

The invention also is readily adapted to the positioning of normally curved cushions to curved frame members as illustrated in Figs. 4 through 6. In these figures, it will be seen that, for example, the horizontal frame members 42 are curved in top plan view as shown in Fig. 5, while the vertical frame members 44 are substantially straight. Under these circumstances, it is preferred to have the cushion 46 curved in top plan view and, in order that the cushion may maintain such curvature, a suitable sleeve comprising, for example, a strip 48, sewed at 1ts opposite edges to rear panel of cushion 46, may receive a permanently curved fiat metalhc str1p 50, which is pref erably inflexible so as to maintain the curvature of the cushion 46. Under most conditions of use, the cushion 46 will be a back cushion for a chair but such arrangement is not restricted to back cushions.

Under conditions where a curved cushion 46 is desired, the disengageable cushion attaching means embodying the principles of the present invention are attached to the rear panel 52 of the cushion, such attaching means comprising vertically extending sleeves 54 disposed adjacent opposite side edges of the cushion 46 as shown in Figs; 4 and 5. The vertical sleeves 54 may be formed similarly to the sleeves 30 illustrated in Figs. 1 through 3, or from strips similar to strips 48.

Flexible connecting strips 56 are disposed within the sleeves 54 and the opposite ends thereof are received within receiving members 58 secured to the straight vertical frame members 44, as shown in Fig. 4. If desired, the receiving members 58 may be in the form of staples as shown in detail, on enlarged scale, in Fig. 8. The spacing of the receiving members 58 is similar to that of the receiving members 34 in the emboidment shown in Figs. 1 through 3 and the flexible strips 56 and sleeves 54 reiative to receiving members 58 is similar to that of the corresponding elements in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 3.

In order to remove cushion 46 from the back frame member illustrated in Figs. 4 through 6, the opposite side edges of the cushion 46 are engaged intermediate of the lengths thereof so as to bow the flexible strips 56 and remove either one or both ends of said strip from the receiving members 58, thereby enabling the cushion to be removed from the frame. As will be obvious, to attach the cushion 46 to the frame, the side edges thereof first are bowed so as to flex the strips 56 and permit reception of the opposite ends thereof within the receiving members 58. Release of the cushion then will enable the strips 56 to become straight and project the opposite ends of said strips within the receiving members 58.

As in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 3, the

strips 56 are fastened within the sleeves 54 so as to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the same, by exemplary means such as rivets 60 which function similarly to rivets 38 in the other embodiment.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides inexpensive and readily assembled means for attaching removable cushions to the frame of a chair, the attaching means affording maximum support of said cushions relative to the chair frame so as to resist efforts to dislodge the cushions from the chair frame during normal use. However, the cushions readily may be attached to and detached from the frame of the chair without the use of any tools and simply by flexing either the end or sides of the cushion, as the case may be relative to the several embodiments of the invention, for purposes of Withdrawing certain movable elements of the attaching means from other relatively fixed elements attached to the chair assembly.

While the invention has been shown and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other Ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

l; A chair or seat comprising a frame member and a cushion member to be connected detachably to said frame member, in combination with attaching mechanism having longitudinally spaced portions interconnected to each other and relatively movable toward each other and projectable from each other, said attaching mecha nism being carried by one of said members, and spaced receiving means supported by the other member and arranged respectively to receive said portions of said attaching mechanism when said portions are projected thereinto, thereby detachably connecting said cushion member to said frame member and preventing appreciable relative movement between said members.

2. The chair or seat set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said attaching mechanism comprising a flexible elongated member, the opposite ends of said member being contracted toward each other when said member is bowed and projected into said spaced receiving means when said member is straightened.

3. The chair or seat set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said flexible elongated member being supported by said cushion adjacent one edge thereof and substantially parallel thereto.

4. The chair or seat set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said elongated member being substantially parallel to one face of said cushion and the ends thereof being positioned adjacent opposite edges of said cushion.

5. A chair or seat compn'sing a frame in combination with a cushion, an elongated flexible strip supported by one face of said cushion and extending substantially thereacross, and a pair of bail members connected to said frame and spaced thereon a distance less than the length of said strip, whereby when said strip is bowed the ends thereof may be positioned adjacent said bail members and be disposed therein when said strip is permitted to straighten, the removal of said cushion being effected by bowing said strip.

6. The chair or seat set forth in claim 5 further characterized by said strip being secured to said cushion to prevent relative movement therebetween in a direction longitudinally of said strip.

7. The chair or seat set forth in claim 5 further including a sleeve-like member fixed to one face of said cushion within which said strip is disposed, the length of said sleeve-like member being approximately equal to the distance between said bail members and the opposite ends of said strip projecting beyond the ends of said sleeve-like member.

8. A chair or seat comprising a frame defined by pairs of substantially parallel members defining a generally quadrangular outline, one pair of members being curved to provide said frame with a curvature in one direction, in combination with a yieldable cushion, a strip permanently curved similarly to the curvature of said one pair of members and attached to said cushion adjacent one edge to produce a permanent curvature in said cushion similar to that of said one pair of members of said frame, sleeve-like means on one-face of said cushion adjacent the opposite edges thereof transverse to the curved edges thereof, flexible strips disposed in said sleeve-like means, and receiving means on said frame arranged to be engaged releasably by said flexible strips adjacent the opposite ends thereof to secure said cushion detachably to said frame while said cushion is maintained permanently curved in one direction by said permanently curved strip to conform to the curvature of said frame.

9. A chair or seat cushion having attaching mechanism connected thereto comprising interconnected'longitudinally spaced means relatively contractable toward each. other and projectable from each other, said mechanism being supported solely by said cushion for contracting and projecting movements relative to each other and arranged to be contracted for positioning relative to receiving means on a chair or seat and then projected into said means to secure said cushion to a chair or seat.

10. The chair or seat cushion set forth in claim 9 further characterized by said spaced means comprising the opposite ends of a flexible elongated member arranged to be bowed to contract said ends and straightened to project said ends in opposite directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,728,382 Baranski Dec. 27, 1955 

